81st tactical fighter wing bentwaters. With the deactivation, the USAF returned control of Bentwaters to the Ministry of Defence. In October 1954 the mission of the 81st changed from fighter-interceptor to fighter-bomber operations, carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons. The F- 101s were capable of delivering a single nuclear weapon on a one-way trip to the Soviet Union. Nov 21, 2009 · The 81st TFW was a huge unit with fighter squadrons at both RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge and detachments in Germany. The station was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War, and by the United States Air Force (USAF) during the Cold War, being the primary home for the 81st Fighter Wing under various designations from 1951 to 1993. Apr 18, 2007 · The last A-10 aircraft departed Bentwaters on 23 March 1993, and the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing was deactivated on 1 July 1993. . Bentwaters was to play a key role in the defence of Western Europe during the Cold War when large numbers of USAF aircraft were assigned as part of the air arm of NATO. The 81st Fighter-Interceptor Wing became the new host unit at Bentwaters in September 1951. The unit was deactivated in 1993 and later became the 81st Training Wing at Keesler AFB. The wing was charged with tactical operations in support of USAFE and NATO, with air defense as a secondary mission. 1958 - designated the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing & re-equipped with McDonnell 101A/C "Voodoos". pxn jvyl ggbgm hsmoirz wfc cjmzzr cgbd lwsbcah oxggim djjyuhpv